5 Ways the Nook Could Beat the Kindle

Barnes & Noble will make some big eBook reader announcements today. Here's what it could do to help the nook catch up to the Amazon Kindle.

0shares

Barnes & Noble will be making some big Nook announcements this afternoon at a press conference in New York City, but the one question on everyone's mind will be: How is the nook going to compete against the Amazon Kindle? Barnes & Noble and Amazon keep its e-reader sales numbers pretty quiet, but it seems safe to say that the Kindle has an edge at this point. Amazon announced yesterday that Kindle sales have already passed last year's totals for Q4. What can Barnes & Noble do to catch up? I have five ideas, viz.

Hold Serve with the nook

Perhaps, most fundamentally, the Nook has to be as good an eBook reader as the Kindle. That means it needs one of those new "pearl" E-Ink displays you can find on the latest eBook readers, including the Kindle and the Sony Readers. It could also use a little speed bump, that start-up time is agonizing. But most importantly, B&N has to keep the Nook's price close to the Kindle. B&N can't afford to go premium with its entry-level reader.

Add a Color Screen

With the entry level staying the course, it is time to offer a color version. For pure text, monochromatic E-Ink is great. Regardless of this, readers want color for photos and graphics. In addition, if the company has any hope of selling eBook readers to kids, color is a necessity. Dr. Suess just isn't the same in shades of gray. This won't be easy. Color E-Ink is still years away from affordability and there are just a few options. Still, Kobo has managed to offer a color LCD. People will be willing to charge the device daily if it helps their kids read more. If the battery lasts for two days, even better.

Add More Social Features

This is really just a personal preference, but I love the way you can share quotes from books via Twitter and Facebook on the Kindle. Reading is usually a private activity, which is a good habit. Even so, the ability to quickly select a passage and share it with your friends and family online is quite cool. There is a great opportunity for Barnes & Noble to be more than just a book retailer; it can serve as a social hub for media consumption. Probably, not a bad idea to give the guys at Foursquare a call either.

Create a Digital Network like Starbucks

Last week Starbucks lit up the Starbucks Digital Network (SDN). Go into a Starbucks, log onto the free Wi-Fi network, and you get a customized portal. SDN is a branded digital space that extends the Starbucks' experience online. Barnes & Noble needs a network that is robust. And it has already begun. Bring your Nook to a Barnes & Noble, and you can get custom content on your device. The company needs to expand on this so you can access it from any device: nook, smartphone, laptop, or whatever gets you online. Starbucks partnered with Yahoo! for the content and back-end expertise, Barnes & Noble could do the same.

Ride the Mobile App Boom

//Related Articles

Barnes & Noble has done a great job of making its eBooks available on smartphones and PCs. It needs to keep this trend going with the latest batch of Tablets, and even new and emerging platforms like Windows Phone 7. No matter how many nooks Barnes & Noble can sell, if the company doesn't keep expanding its platforms support, it will fail.

Some people have suggested that the only way for Barnes & Noble to beat the Kindle would be to come out with a full-featured Android-based Tablet. But, I think it is too soon to come to terms with this. Barnes & Noble isn't in the hardware business; it is in the book business, which is becoming increasingly digital. But, coming out with a "me-too" Android tablet won't help its chances. In the end, Barnes & Noble's biggest advantage in its battle with Amazon is its 717 retail stores, which is a strong foundation to build on.

What do you think the Barnes & Noble can do to compete with the Kindle? Is resistance futile? Let me know in the comments section below.

Dan Costa is the Editor-in-Chief of PCMag.com and the Senior Vice President of Content for Ziff-Davis. He oversees the editorial operations for PCMag.com, Geek.com, ExtremeTech.com as well as PCMag's network of blogs, including AppScout and SecurityWatch. Dan makes frequent appearances on local, national, and international news programs, including CNN, MSNBC, FOX, ABC, and NBC where he shares his perspective on a variety of technology trends.
Dan began working at PC Magazine in 2005 as a senior editor, covering consumer electronics, blogging on Gearlog.com, and serving as...
More »

Automatic Renewal Program: Your subscription will continue without interruption for as long as you wish, unless
you instruct us otherwise. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of the term unless you authorize
cancellation. Each year, you'll receive a notice and you authorize that your credit/debit card will be charged the
annual subscription rate(s). You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all
unsent issues. If your credit/debit card or other billing method can not be charged, we will bill you directly instead. Contact Customer Service

//our current issue

Select Term:

24 issues for $29.99 ONLY $1.25 an issue! Lock in Your Savings!

12 issues for $19.99ONLY $1.67 an issue!

State

Country

This transaction is secure

Automatic Renewal Program: Your subscription will continue without interruption for as long as you wish, unless
you instruct us otherwise. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of the term unless you authorize
cancellation. Each year, you'll receive a notice and you authorize that your credit/debit card will be charged the
annual subscription rate(s). You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all
unsent issues. If your credit/debit card or other billing method can not be charged, we will bill you directly instead. Contact Customer Service